IvanExpert

09/16/2024

This is the second in a series of posts about keeping yourself safe online, which is something that, alas, is something we all need to do in 2024. Please read my previous post first - I wrote about two-factor authentication (2FA), what it is, and on which types of accounts we advise you to set it up.

This is the second in a series of posts about keeping yourself safe online, which is something that, alas, is something we all need to do in 2024. Please read m

08/28/2024

Well, it sucks, but there are bad people who want to break into your accounts and steal your identity and money. I don't want that to happen to you. This is one post in a series I'll be writing on how to best protect yourself.

Today's fun topic: two-factor authentication (2FA), or two-step verification (2SV).

Well, it sucks, but there are bad people who want to break into your accounts and steal your identity and money. I don't want that to happen to you. This is one

08/28/2024

08/28/2024

Here are instructions on how to wipe an old Mac - any Mac that is before 2018 with a Fusion Drive or a solid state drive (SSD).

Part 1: Encrypt the drive

- Turn on the computer, and log in as usual.

- Go to Apple Menu > System Preferences > Energy Saver. Check the box that says "Prevent Mac From Sleeping When Display Is Dimmed" or something to that effect.

Here are instructions on how to wipe an old Mac - any Mac that is before 2018 with a Fusion Drive or a solid state drive (SSD). Part 1: Encrypt the drive

10/25/2021

Apple has now transitioned all of their laptops to have Apple processors (unlike their desktop models, which still have Intel variations available). Now you have difficult choices to make when purchasing. So, how do you choose? Well, let's start by saying that for everyday computing -- hell, even demanding computing -- the MacBook Air will more than get the job done....

Apple has now transitioned all of their laptops to have Apple processors (unlike their desktop models, which still have Intel variations available). Now you have difficult choices to make when purchasing. So, how do you choose? Well, let’s start by saying that for everyday computing — hell, even...

10/05/2021

TeamViewer, the erstwhile remote control software that we here at IvanExpert use for remote controlling our clients' computers, has, like every other company, been hard at work trying to figure out how to get more money from their existing users. So, they have been narrowing the lane in which personal users can use it for free. (Paid users are unaffected.)...

Users of free TeamViewer need to be using the current version, or it will refuse to connect. Which is a problem if you're running an older version of macOS.

10/01/2021

Mac users have a long and sordid history with Intuit, the original developers of Quicken. The product has always been second class compared to its Windows version. Recently I had a client who had been using the ill-fated Quicken Essentials for Mac, and I was surprised to discover that modern Quicken refuses to import its data. Its support pages are, in fact, …...

Mac users have a long and sordid history with Intuit, the original developers of Quicken. The product has always been second class compared to its Windows version. Recently I had a client who had been using the ill-fated Quicken Essentials for Mac, and I was surprised to discover that modern Quicken...

09/27/2021

Most new Macs do not have expandable storage -- it's part of the computer, so it's important to buy more than you think you might need when you purchase it. However, many recent Macs have removable storage modules that can be exchanged for higher-capacity ones. You can see what model of Mac you have under Apple Menu > About This Mac, and how much total storage you have under the Storage tab....

Most new Macs do not have expandable storage — it’s part of the computer, so it’s important to buy more than you think you might need when you purchase it. However, many recent Macs have removable storage modules that can be exchanged for higher-capacity ones. You can see what model of Mac you...

07/26/2021

Questions I hear asked often are "What is the Archive folder (or All Mail) folder and what am I supposed to do with it? And why does an Archive button appear on my iPhone instead of Trash?" The answer, well, depends, on whether you're using Google Mail/Gmail, or every other mail system. Non-Google mail hosts: If you're using iCloud, Exchange, Outlook.com, AOL, Yahoo, or any other non-Google mail provider, the Archive folder is just an ordinary folder that has been designated for "messages I don't want in my Inbox any more, but I also don't want to trash." For those who already make their own mail folders for saving mail, this might not serve much purpose, and you probably wish to ignore it....

https://www.ivanexpert.com/blog/2021/07/so-what-is-the-archive-or-all-mail-folder-in-apple-mail-or-outlook-or-gmail-anyway/

"What is the Archive folder (or All Mail) folder and what am I supposed to do with it?" The answer depends on whether you're using Google Mail/Gmail.

07/16/2021

There are a ton of cloud storage providers at this point: Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive, Apple iCloud Drive, Google Drive, and more. Google Drive has been gradually displacing Dropbox over many years as the cloud drive of choice for those who need to share documents, and who are not embedded in Microsoft's world. While it's possible to use Google Drive entirely on the web, and my guess is that it's what most people do, a much more pleasant experience, in my opinion, is to install software on your computer that makes your Google Drive appear as though it is any other folder on your computer....

How to easily use Google Drive to store files with your Mac, and how is Google Drive changing?